The Eve of the Maelstrom by Jean Rabe

Author:Jean Rabe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction, Dragons of the Fifth Age Volume Three, General
ISBN: 9780786928606
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Published: 2002-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

SUNKEN SHIPS

“I’ve been exploring the possibilities surrounding Takhisis’s return,” Palin said. “Something... bothers me.” The anxiety in his voice was evident as he stared into the water-filled crystal bowl. Gilthanas’s face stared back at him through the widening ripples.

“Bothers you more than the dragon goddess coming back?”

“No,” Palin said with a laugh. “There is little worse that could befall Krynn. It is where she will return that is bothering me. If we guess wrong —”

“No one will be there to stop her,” Gilthanas finished. “If we guess right, we might not have the power to stop her anyway.”

“But we must guess right if we are to have the slightest chance.”

“Agreed. What are the options?” The elf’s voice sounded soft and hollow.

Palin steepled his fingers. The lines on his face were noticeably deeper, especially around his eyes, as if he had aged in the past few weeks. He released a long sigh. “The Master is confident Takhisis will appear somewhere near the Window to the Stars. It is an ancient place in Khur.”

“I have heard of it.”

“The Master says all his divinations point to that area, and yet...”

“And yet?” Gilthanas asked finally.

“The Shadow Sorcerer is adamant that the site will be Ariakan’s Rest. There is wisdom in his words as well. It is a mystic place for the Knights of Takhisis.”

“Takhisis appeared there before,” Gilthanas said.

Palin nodded. “My associates refuse to come to an agreement. Neither will consider the other’s position. They have almost come to blows over the matter.”

“Our forces are too small to split up,” the elf said.

“And the two places are far apart.”

“Are you alone?”

Palin nodded.

“Then tell me, whose counsel do you trust more? Perhaps that should make the decision.”

Palin shook his head, shrugging his stooped shoulders. “I don’t know.” The Master was the personification of the Tower of Wayreth, he thought, and the embodiment of high sorcery in the form of a man. He could wear the face of any sorcerer he chose. The Shadow Sorcerer was wrapped in mystery, as well. Perhaps he was a man, perhaps a woman. Palin had come to rely on both mages heavily during the past several years. But he did not trust one above the other.

“How can I help?” asked Gilthanas.

“You’ve got magic on your side,” Palin began, “and a dragon. If Silvara is willing, the two of you could explore the area around the Window after you’ve taken Usha and Blister to the coast, to Ak-Khurman. Check for signs and see if you notice anything unusual.”

“Khur’s a big country. It will take time.”

“It will take the others time to obtain the crown. With the Shadow Sorcerer’s help, the Master was finally able to contact Feril and Rig. It took some doing. They had sealed themselves in a cave, several miles away, to avoid dozens of spawn. The Master told them you found Dhamon, and they decided to head to Ak-Khurman.”

Palin sighed. “And I cannot risk destroying any more of the arcane items here to power a spell to send them to Ak-Khurman.

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